How to Get a Free Hotel Room Upgrade

We all love to get something for nothing and hotels are no exception. We can hope to get a free hotel room upgrade, but that doesn’t mean you’ll receive one. The next time you’re on vacation, try these tips to get luxury accommodations for a lot less.

Here is how you can get a free hotel room upgrade!

We all want to live a life of luxury. Unfortunately, not all of us can afford the finer things at book value. The good news for the rest of us is that there are some savvy ways you can stretch your dollar and enjoy the finer things. One of these ways is by strategically traveling in order to get a free hotel room upgrade. Despite what many think—you don’t have to be a celebrity or a VIP guest to get preferential treatment. It may require doing a bit of research ahead of time, but anyone can use these tips to receive perks courtesy of front desk.

Take advantage of special occasions

One of the best ways to get a free hotel room upgrade is if you arrive with a reason to celebrate. Whether it be a birthday or anniversary, make sure you casually mention the occasion at the front desk. If the front receptionist knows this information, you may find yourself celebrating in style in a luxury suite.

Get personal

Even if you don’t have a milestone to commemorate, it still doesn’t hurt to play up your excitement about your trip. A good story about the reason for your journey can sometimes play into the hearts of hotel staff. This is especially true if you bring any of your friends or family into the story. Tugging at the right heart strings might be the perfect way to get a free hotel room upgrade!

Be curious

You don’t know if you don’t ask, right? When you check in, ask the person at the front counter about all the services and amenities that are available to you. Make sure to ask about a particular upgrade you know you don’t qualify for. Doing this will make front desk feel obligated to offer you something else instead.

Don’t make specific requests ahead of time

You might think you’re on the ball by requesting that Jacuzzi ahead of time, but in fact, doing so will greatly reduce your chance at getting a free upgrade. If you don’t make any special requests ahead of time, you will be more likely to get a free hotel room upgrade as you may not be assigned a room until you check in.

Check in at the right time

If you arrive at your hotel between 4:45 and 6:00pm, you’re more likely to get a free hotel room upgrade. Front desk rush hours for check-ins are usually between 6-8pm. If you get there during this time, front desk will likely be too busy to treat you to a free upgrade and most of the luxury suites will likely be occupied at that point. By getting there just before rush hour, you will increase your chances at receiving preferential treatment.

Use the loyalty program

Most hotel chains have customer loyalty programs and they’re there for a reason. Take advantage of them. If you’re a frequent traveler, making your hotel reservation using your loyalty account or credit card will make the person at the front desk more inclined to treat you nicely as they know it’s in their best interest to treat their frequent guests.

Book for a short stay

The shorter your stay, the more likely you are to get a free hotel room upgrade. If you stay at the same resort for two weeks straight, the chances of an upgrade being available for that length of time are slim to none. However, if you’re just staying for a night or two, your odds increase significantly.

Try out a new hotel

It may pay to check out newly-built hotels, as often brand new properties offer significant discounts during the first month of its opening. While technically not an upgrade, these type of grand opening specials are common as the hotel uses accommodation discounts to make its luxury amenities financially as accessible as possible as a way to generate word of mouth.

Travel in the off season

Another easy way to land a free room upgrade is by travelling in the off season. If you find yourself in Arizona in July or London in November, you’re more likely to find that your hotel ins undersold. If this is the case, that means they likely have several categories of rooms available and will be more likely to give you a nicer room than the one you originally booked.

Be kind

While this may not ensure that you’ll get the room upgrade of your liking, being kind and gracious to the person at the front desk is one of the best ways to increase your chances. No matter what tricks you use to get a nicer room, ultimately, none of it will matter if you act like a jerk to staff. Being nice pays off.